Electric switch.



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ELECTRIC SiITCH.

Application filed .Tune 17, 1914.

and operating means therefor, and it comprises various novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts that will be set lor'th by the detailed description of the best embodiment thereofy at present known to me, While its scope will be indicated in my claims.

Among the advantages obtainable in con nection with the invention are compactness and simplicity of the mechanism; thorough protection thereof by insulation; and con,.- venience in assembling and securing the mechanism in a casing or other inclosing Structure. These and other advantages that will hereinafter appear especially adapt the switch for use in the handles of vacuum or suction cleaners, as herein shown; but its utility is not confined to this application.

ln the accompanying drawing, Figure 1` is a longitudinal section of a lvacuum cleaner handle with a switch therein, on an enlarged scale; Fig. Z is a plan view of the switch mechanism proper; Fig. 3 is an end view of an insulative lining, partly in section; Figs. Il and 5 are detail views showing how an internally threaded bushing piece associated with said lining is secured thereto; Fig. 6 is a detail view of certain parts of the switch mechanism as they would appear from beneath; Fie. 7 is an exterior view of the end of the vacuum cleaner handle tilted forward somewhat, showing a modification; and Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary detail views illustrating a modilication of certain electrical parts and a modified way of mounting and securing their., Fig. 8 bev ing a sectional elevation corresponding to Fig. l and Fig. 9 being a reversed plan View with.one of the parts in section.

Referring, first, to Figs. 1 and 2, the end portion l of the vacuum cleaner handle is shown as in the form of a metal tube which serves as a casing for the switch proper. Vlithin the casing l an insulating lining 2. shown as a. piece otinsulating libmhent to cylindrical forni, and within vthis liniug' Specification of Letters latent.

'latented Mar. 21, l.

serial stance.

is the sw'tch nchanism` The operating parts of this mechanism are mounted on a hase (of porcelain, bisque, or other insulating material) which is held in place by screws that faz-tend through the wall of the tube and the lining 2 and engage in periphery ioles 5, 5 in the hase.. As shown in Fi- 3, internally threaded metal pieces 6, 6 of lead, aluminium, brass, ar other convenient metal or alloy are expanded orotherwise "ecured diametrically opposite in holes in the wall the lining 2, "and te threaded eng gement or" the screws Il, 4 is in these pieces. These pieces t3, G extend inward within lining 2 and engage in upwardly open p pheral recesses 7, 7 in the insulating base at the `nottom of which are the holes 5, 5, thus helping to keep the parts in place and aiding 'their assem'ily in the factory. As shown in Figs. 2?, Il and 5, each of these bushing pieces 6 has a reduced portion 8 at one side which fits in the hole in the lining and is expanded at its edge so as to lill a countersink at the edge of the hole.`

When each bushingpiece G is stamped or struck up or otherwise formed, slight ridges or projections. 9, il are formed on the shoul-I der at the hase of the reduced portion 8, and

these ridges engage/in notches 'at opposite` sides of the holo in the lining 2 `and so prevent the bushing from turning therein.

ReferringT te Figs. Z and 4,. it will 'be seen that the 'vitali mechanism is mounted on the upper of the hase 3 and is o erated by a rotary member 1U extern ing lengthwise ot the tubular casing l. The mechanism shown in the main that of the quarter turn rotary snap switch illustrated in my Patent No. 1,022,536, granted April 9, 19M, so that no description Vis necessary except as to certain special features. As rega rds the parts directly involved in the snap active end portions, so that in neither its on nor its oli position do the lug portions of said member containing said attachment means 15, stand directly opposite the staitional-y contacts 16, 16. This is of moment in View of the small clearance between the p stationary contacts 1G, 16 and the lug porthrough slots in the upper ends of diametrically opposite metal strips 17, 17 and are headed over. rfliese strips 17, 17 are secured on the peripheryY of the hase 3 and extend from its upper to its lower side'in peripheral grooves, and their lower ends are bent inward and provided with screws for the attachment of the current conductors ofthe vacuum Cleaner motor circuit. Each ofthe strips 17, 17 has a foot 18 that rests against the lower side of the oase and is secured by two screws 19, 1f) extending down from recesses in the upper side of the base that contain the-ir heads. This mode of mountingy and securing the contacts 1G, 1G affords perfect insulatio and allows the base to be made as small as the operating parts of the switch mechanism will `permit.

Referring, now, exclusively to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the rotary operating memher 10 is actuated by a rotary device 20 at the end of the handle 1. This device 2() has the form of a cap that fits over and closes theY otherwise open end of the handle or casing 1, and in the present instance it is connected to the switch operating:r m'emher or spindle 1() in such a way that it can yield and move lengthwise of the handle 1 a limited distance. As shown, the connection comprises an internally threaded part 21 screwed on the end of the spindle 10, a yoke secured to the cap 2O and engaging the part 21 in such a way th at it may move lengthwise thereof but compels said part 21 to turn 'ith it, and a helical coi'npression spring 23 acting between a squared head 24C at the upper end of the part 21 and a washer 25 loose on said part 21 in the lower end 0f the yoke The yoke 22 fits in another yoke 2G .secured thereto at its` upper end hy a rivet 27 and the yoke 26 has lugs 28 that are riveted to the top portion of the cap 2O at 29 (sec also Fig. 7). This construction allows the switch base 3 to be secured a little lower in the tube 1 than shown, so to insure that when the part 21 is screwed on the operating memlier 10 the end of the tuhe 1 shall come against the bottom of the cap 20 and save the switch from injury by any accidental blow on said cap, This lfeature also insures against excessively tiffht jamming o the part 21 on the threaded endo the member 10.,

In Fig. 7 1 have shown how the yielding connection between the cap 2O and the switclroperating member 10 can be utilized in locking|- the switch against accidental shutting oil' when the vacuum cleaner is in use. As here shown, the cap 2O is deeper than shown in Fig. 1 by about the diameter of the heads of the screws 4. Diainetrically opposite in the lower edge of the. cap 2O are notches 30 (see Fig. 7) that accommodate and engage the heads of the screws l1, L1 when the switch is in the on position and s0 loch it against accidental turning; while at other times the smooth edge of the cap 2() en- Y gages the heads of said screws 4l, 4 and the cap is free to turn.

In Figs. 8 and 9 1 have shown a modification of the stationary contacts and contact strips and also a different Way of securing them to the base 3. As here shown, the contacts proper at 34 are formed by bendingover the ends ot' metal strips 35, and the feet 36 are merely intermediate enlarged portions` of said strips. Though these feet 36 are provided with holes for the screws 19, yet as shown thc strips 35 are not secured to the base 8 by means of such screws, but by other screws 37 that extend through the portions of the strips 35 in the peripheral grooves in said base 3 and engage nuts 3S in recesses 39 in the base, these recesses being so shaped as to prevent the nuts 38 from turning.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. The combination of an open ended handle with an external projection near one end, a switch in said handle having a rotary: operating member, a rotatable cap over the end of said handle connected to said member to operate the same and having its lower edge notched for interlocking engagement with said projection7 said cap being movable lengthwise of said handle to withdraw its edge from engagement with said projection, and means yieldinafly urging said cap against said projection.

2; The combination with a switch casing, of an insulative liningr therefor having inter nally threaded metal pieces secured in its wall, an insulating switch base within said lininff, and screws extending through the walls of said casing and said metal pieces and engaging said base so as to secure said lining and said hase in said casing.

3. The combination of a cylindrical switch casing of uniform diameter, an insulating switch base periphcrally fitting the interior of said casing, a rot-ary switch member mounted'at one side of said hase and having laterally acting resilient contact portions perpendicular to its axis of revolution, and.

i metal strips in said casing secured on the periphery of said base and carrying wardly extending contacts for laterally gnging the Contact portions of said switch member.

4. The Combination of an insulating switch base having peripheral grooves and laterally open recesses adjacent said grooves; n. rotar y switch member mounted at one side of seid buse; niet/:1l strips in said grooves extending from one side of said base to the other und euch haring at one end a Contact for engaging said rotary switch member and :1t the other means for the attachment of a current conductor; nuts engaged in said reeesses so as to be prevented from turning; :1nd screws extending through said strips into said nuts, so as to secure said strips 1n said grooves.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto Set my hand this 16th day of June, .lill/.

FRANK C. DE l", 7n messes .BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORroRD. 

